Heartwarming / Nicholas Nickleby

"I must beseech you to contemplate again the fearful course to which you have been impelled."

• Before Nicholas leaves for Dotheboys Hall, Newman Noggs slips in a letter to him. After Nicholas arrives, he reads the letter. It's Newman offering shelter and aid to Nicholas. Despite being seen as an eccentric drunk, he nevertheless establishes himself to be a good friend and ally to Nicholas and his family. After reading the letter, Nicholas was touched to the point of becoming teary-eyed.

  "My dear young Man.

  I know the world. Your father did not, or he would not have done me a kindness when there was no hope of return. You do not, or you would not be bound on such a journey.
  If ever you want a shelter in London (don't be angry at this, I once thought I never should), they know where I live, at the sign of the Crown, in Silver Street, Golden Square. It is at the corner of Silver Street and James Street, with a bar door both ways. You can come at night. Once, nobody was ashamed—never mind that. It's all over.
  Excuse errors. I should forget how to wear a whole coat now. I have forgotten all my old ways. My spelling may have gone with them.

  NEWMAN NOGGS.
  P.S. If you should go near Barnard Castle, there is good ale at the King's Head. Say you know me, and I am sure they will not charge you for it. You may say Mr Noggs there, for I was a gentleman then. I was indeed."
• After giving Wackford Squeers a taste of his own medicine, Nicholas encounters John Browdie on the road back to London. When Nicholas apologises for having unintentionally offended him the first time they met, John heartily forgives him by shaking his hand. Later when Nicholas tells him of the thrashing he gave to Squeers, John has a good laugh about it and congratulates Nicholas for that. He then gives him some money and a stick to help him on his journey back to London. This scene is pretty heartwarming, as it establishes them as great friends.
• The friendship between Nicholas and Smike is full of heartwarming moments. One of the saddest comes just before Smike's death: "Always remember... you made me happy".
  • The scene between Nicholas and Smike after the former defended him from Wackford Squeers and befriended John Browdie, is nothing short of touching.
    Smike: (timidly) May I - may I go with you? I will be your faithful, hard-working servant, I will indeed. I want no clothes; these will do very well. I only want to be near you.
    Nicholas: And you shall. And the world shall deal by you as it does by me, till one or both of us shall quit it for a better.
  • The last paragraph in the novel is of Smike's grave being well-tended by his family. He was loved and remembered after his death
• The Kenwigs gush over Nicholas' gentlemanly behavior after he had saved one of their children from having a part of their hair caught fire, and upon hearing of his unemployment, take him up as a French teacher for their children. The position may be just as meager as his former position was at Dotheboys Hall, but the Kenwigs are at least warmer and more welcoming than the Squeers family.
• Nicholas' fierce devotion to his family is both this and a Moment of Awesome. Special notion goes to the part when he attacks Sir Mulberry Hawk for harassing his sister and damaging her honor. You can tell Kate is very lucky to have him as an older brother.
• Chapter 31 has a minor moment for Miss LaCreevy: she recounts that she had a brother who was separated from her at a young age and went to live in the country. She was sad about it and expected he would forget her, but hoped he would have a good life. To her surprise, he tracked her down, was happy to see her, and invited her to see his family and her country home for a month. It is a minor moment but a sweet and happy one for her.
• Lord Frederick Verisopht defending Nicholas against Ralph and Hawk when they both plan revenge on him. It's touching to see that out of all of Ralph's associates, he's the only one with a moral conscience.
• The romance between Nicholas and Madeliene is this in spades. They are similar to each other in many ways; both live in penniless families, and are so devoted to their families that they are willing to do anything to get them out of their penniless situation. It reaches to the point where Nicholas becomes more concerned for Madeliene's own happiness.
  • Their first dialogue scene speaking to each other formally in the 2002 film sells this.
  Nicholas: You have but to hint at a wish, and I would hazard my life to gratify it. Have you ever had the sensation of looking at someone for the first time, and ever so quickly, the past and future seem to fuse? The first time I saw you—
  Madeliene: (smiles) At your uncle's. And then, that day on the street by the wall.
  Nicholas: (smiles back) You remember.
  Madeliene: I felt such concern for you.
  Nicholas: And I for you. Does that not mean something? That we felt so much, so deeply, before speaking? And now that I know your history, I entreat you to believe, I would do anything to help you.
• Newman Noggs gets a well-deserved position at the end of the story as a caretaker of the Nickleby children.

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